Making your website accessible isn’t just a “bonus” – it’s essential if you want your brand to reach the widest possible audience. By optimizing your site for accessibility, you make sure that people with a wide range of abilities can engage with your content, regardless of their physical, cognitive, or sensory challenges. Plus, it’s not just good for users—it can improve your site’s performance and help you avoid legal issues.

Web accessibility means designing your website so that people with disabilities can use it effectively. This includes more than just adding subtitles to videos—a wide range of disabilities can impact how someone interacts with your site, including vision impairment, cognitive disabilities, hearing loss, and physical challenges that affect mobility.

So, how do you know if your website is accessible? The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) suggests that a truly accessible site needs to meet four key principles:

1. Perceivable

Is your website content accessible to all users? For example, someone with vision loss will experience your site differently than someone who can see well. To help with this, provide text alternatives for non-text content like photos, videos, and infographics.

  • How to improve your site: Use image alt text, which allows screen readers to describe images to users with visual impairments. For videos, include subtitles and transcripts for those with hearing loss.

2. Operable

Can everyone navigate and use your site? This means making sure that all functionality is accessible, whether someone is using a keyboard, a mouse, or assistive technologies like speech recognition software.

  • How to improve your site: Make sure users can navigate your website with a keyboard alone (many people with mobility impairments can’t use a mouse). Also, ensure that your site doesn’t rely on timing—give users plenty of time to read and interact with your content.

3. Understandable

Is your content easy to understand and follow? It’s not just about avoiding technical jargon; your website should be clear and intuitive for all users.

  • How to improve your site: Use plain language and avoid complicated, cluttered designs. Consistency is key, so make sure your navigation and buttons behave predictably. Break down content into bite-sized pieces and use clear labels for forms and instructions.

4. Robust

Is your site compatible with different types of assistive technology? Users may rely on various tools like screen readers or magnifiers, so your website needs to work with them seamlessly.

  • How to improve your site: Regularly test your site on different devices and with assistive tools to ensure everything works properly. Staying up to date with current web standards, like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), is also crucial.

Quick Tips for Improving Accessibility:

  • Add alt text to all images so screen readers can describe them to visually impaired users.
  • Use clear headings and structure your content logically to help users with cognitive disabilities.
  • Make sure your text has enough contrast against the background so it’s easy to read for people with low vision.
  • Provide transcripts for all video and audio content.
  • Test your site with a screen reader to see how well it functions.
  • Avoid auto-play media that could distract or overwhelm users.

Conclusion:

Building an accessible website not only creates a better experience for people with disabilities, but also improves the experience for all your visitors. Making thoughtful adjustments benefits everyone, improving usability, search engine rankings, and user satisfaction.

For more detailed guidance, check out resources like the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) and stay updated on accessibility standards like the WCAG guidelines.

Ready to give your website some TLC? Revel is here to help—contact us today to learn how we can make your site more user-friendly for all. Check out our previous work on website redesigns for Consumer Credit Counseling Service and Magers Management.